A Caribbean Songbook

You may well ask, “what's an album of Caribbean standards doing in the Pacific section?” Well, it makes sense when you learn that the artist, 85-year-old Torres Strait Islander Henry ‘Seaman’ Dan, had a great-grandfather who was a sailor from the West Indies. Calypso was very popular in the 60s in Australia's tropical north, while Jamaican reggae continues to be influential across the entire Pacific.

The opening chestnut ‘Rivers of Babylon’ starts off like a dirge but quickly morphs into a jaunty little number, complete with sassy female backing vocals. Aboriginal legend Archie Roach guests on ‘Brown Girl in the Ring’, while indigenous singer Cindy Drummond spices up the popular calypso tune ‘Rum and Coca-Cola’. A few traditional Caribbean songs made famous by Western pop stars get dusted off here, including a rejuvenated ‘Sloop John B’, popularised by The Beach Boys, and ‘The Tide is High’, made famous by Blondie. The obligatory ‘Banana Boat Song’ gets a breezy look-in, as does Bob Marley's ‘Three Little Birds’, accompanied by steel-drums, and Johnny Nash's ‘I Can See Clearly Now’. While his touring days may be over, Seaman Dan's laid-back tenor voice remains sprightly and strong. Warmly produced by Australian ethnomusicologist Karl Neuenfeldt and ex-Steeleye Span drummer Nigel Pegrum, A Caribbean Songbook proves that this feisty octogenarian is still capable of some fine upbeat, toe-tapping versions of classic songs.